Warning: mention of kidnapping, minor swearing, and lots of dialogue

Please Enjoy!

"Have you spotted target?" Obito's hushed whisper came out over the portable radio earpieces in his students' ears.

"I have eyes on the target, ready to go at the signal," Sasuke answered with the same tone as his cousin. When he spotted the shadowy figure of their target leaping through the outskirts of the Konoha forest near the south gate.

"I'm ready, too," Sakura replied with a hint of determination.

"I'm ready, believe it!" Naruto whispered-yelled with enthusiasm a couple of moments later.

"You're slow, Naruto," Obito answered dryly. While standing behind a tree, watching the target from a distance.

"Not yet, wait for it, NOW!" Obito yelled, watching his little genin team charge the passing target.

"GOT YA!" Naruto screeched with excitement as he clung to the struggling brown cat.

"Does the target have a red bow on the left ear?" Obito questioned, focusing on the mission, but could still hear Naruto screaming and the cat's angry meows and hisses.

"Affirmative, we have a match," Sasuke replied, watch the cat's sharp crawls dug into Naruto's face, making the Uzumaki screech again. Which the young Uchiha found amusing and quite comedic, as Sakura let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Can we please get a different mission! I hate cats!" Naruto yelled straight into his portable radio mic, to the point where Obito flinch, and his eardrums felt like it was being to burst.

Team seven was making good time when they reached the mission room. Naruto laughed at the cat, which was named Tora. That was being smothered by the wife of the Lord of Fire. Minato chuckled at Obito's report and the scratch marks on his son's face. While Hiruzen sat in the chair on Minato's right, and Iruka, sitting in the chair on Hiruzen's right. When the once appointed Third Hokage listed available D rank missions, Naruto refused.

"No more of these baby missions! I want a real mission!" Naruto yelled in irritation.

"Don't speak like that in front of the Hokage!" Iruka shouted back while Minato had an embarrassed grin on his face.

Obito sighed as he vaguely listened to the retired Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, explained the village ranking system. The Uchiha Sensei knew this was bound to happen sooner than later. It reminded him of his old genin team when they were all alive. Obito can't help but wonder if Minato sees the comparisons too.

"Naruto, you have to climb the ranks like any other ninja in this village! Or have you forgotten that you are only a genin!" Iruka shouted in reply when it was clear no one was listening to the Third Hokage's lecture.

"So how am I supposed to get better if I can't take a mission that makes me improve!" Naruto argued in return as Sasuke, and Sakura silently agreed with their blonde teammate.

"It's to get you more experience with working in a team," Minato honestly added, in hopes to defuse the situation.

However, that didn't work, as Naruto retorted even louder, "I have tons of experience! We're not a bunch of little brats anymore! I'm a ninja! And I want to do ninja things!"

"Naruto," Minato spoke in one of his rare warning tones.

"Minato," Hiruzen suddenly interrupted with a knowing smirk. Then added, "maybe we should give them a more challenging mission?"

"With all due respect, Lord Third. I don't know if that's a good idea?" Minato answered with slight concern in his voice.

"If it's just because we have your son on our team, we can just leave him here and go on the mission ourselves," Sasuke coldly commented.

"Hey!" Naruto screeched again.

"Quiet, both of you," Obito scolded.

The Uchiha sensei used the advantage of standing in between the two boys by hitting them both on top of the head. Obito almost found it comedic as the boys slightly wilted, cradling their heads. Especially when Sakura watched from the side with a tiny grin, as if she was the picture of the word innocent.

"Alright, fine. I'll let you do a C rank mission," Minato signed, finally giving in to the suggestion.

"Awesome, believe it!" Naruto yelled with excitement, which reminded Minato a lot of Obito when he was a genin.

"Please, let the client enter," the Fourth Hokage asked the chunnin at the door.

"Oh! Who is it going to be! A princess? A nobleman? Maybe even the Lord of Fire himself!" Naruto whispered in excitement.

However, the young blonde did not expect an older man to walk in drinking out of a large bottle of sake. The man took few more gulps of his drink. Before letting out an exaggerated sigh then stares judgingly at team seven. Then looks at the Fourth Hokage with an expression that Obito would consider as unusually nervous.

"Team seven, your mission is to escort the bridge builder back to his village, in the land of waves," Minato spoke in a neutral tone. As he introduced Obito and the three kids to their new client.

"You're kidding me? This little runt is going to be one of the ninjas' tasks with escorting me back to my village," the old man retorted, looking at the goofy blonde kid in the orange jumpsuit.

"Who's the grumpy old geezer?" Naruto asked unimpressed, by the old drunk in front of him.

"Watch it, Naruto. Don't insult the client," Obito scolded. While lightly smacking Naruto on top of the head as a clear warning.

"Okay, Okay! I'm sorry, Sensei!" The blonde apologized as he cradled his aching head.

"My name is Tazuna," the man introduced himself confidently. Then added, "and I'm a master bridge builder, and I need you to get me back to my village. Alive."

"If that is all, then you may leave as soon as possible to complete your mission," Minato spoke when he saw the determined face on the genin.

"Lord Fourth, I have an additional request for you," Tazuna started looking a little nervous.

"Yes, what is it?" Minato asked curiously, but not surprised since the bridge builder look. As if he was hiding something.

"I have received a letter from my village that some bandits kidnapped several of the children of my village," Tazuna explained, as his fists clenched in anger.

"When did this happen?" The now-retired Third Hokage questioned, surprised by the turn of events.

"Approximately two days ago," the bridge builder answered. Then looked at Minato and added with a desperate tone, "my grandson was one of the children taken. As a father, I'm sure you understand the desperation that I; and other parents of my village are feeling right now. I ask of you to please help us get them back."

Minato knew the older gentleman was correct. If anything happened to Naruto and Kushina or even Jiraiya, Obito, and Rin. Then Minato would be too desperate to save any of them. The Namikaze doesn't want to lose them. However, if his intel on the Land of Waves is correct. Then it might be tricky to provide the help the people in Waves need.

"We can set another team to investigate and operate a rescue mission. Based on so little information, it would be ranked as A or B rank mission," Minato spoke with honesty. As Hokage, he must do what is best for the village comes before his personal feelings. No matter how much he would want to help them.

"I'm sorry to inform you, but the Land of Waves is a poor nation. We cannot afford the cost of an A or B rank mission. Is it possible that after the bridge is built and we're able to trade with the mainland, then once we require enough money, we can pay back the debt?" Tazuna tries to bargain, understanding that it is hopeless to argue.

"I am sorry, but that's not how it works. Many of our jonin and chunnin are already busy with other tasks right now," Minato informed feel guilty for turning down the cry for help. However, he can't risk the manpower for what-ifs.

Surprisingly Iruka stood up from his chair as confidently spoke out, "Lord Fourth, I volunteer to go is with team seven to the Land of Waves."

"Are you sure, Iruka?" Hiruzen questioned with an unsure tone.

"Yes, I'm sure, Lord Third, " Iruka answered respectfully. Then looked at Minato, adding in a reasoning tone, "the Academy still has me marked down for vacation for another week and a half. So, I have plenty of time to help with the mission in finding the children."

"But Iruka," Hiruzen Sarutobi started.

"Lord Fourth, Lord Third, I am willing to go, with no payment required." Iruka implored, "besides, it'll be good for the situation to have someone familiar with children. Plus, a shinobi, who worked with team seven and has some experience in working with Obito Uchiha."

"True, Obito? Does that work for you?" Minato asked with a knowing smirk.

Yes, he is proud of Iruka. He met the Umino after the nine tails attack, a day so many lives were lost, including Iruka's parents. Minato was thrilled when he heard from Hiruzen that he was taking custody of the orphan. Then the boy came to him wanting to learn about sealing and became his apprentice and even babysat Naruto on multiple occasions. Overall, Minato trusts Iruka's skills to protect team seven along with Obito.

"Yes, sir," Obito answered firmly. Then addressed the group, "all right everyone, we're going to meet at the village gate in one hour, so go pack and be ready."

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great day. Sorry for all the dialog, but this is more of a transition chapter. Please, forgive me for any missing words and grammar. If you like the story so far, please leave a favorite and a comment letting me know what you like or looking forward to in the upcoming chapters. Also, I'm going to be posting updates on Fridays'. That way you all have an idea when I will be posting new chapters. This will include my other stories as well, but I can't promise that I will be posting every Friday. However, I will try to get something posted every month. Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, and I hope the next update reaches your expectations. Thanks again.